UAAP

Late surge powers Bulldogs past Falcons for second straight win

ABS-CBN Sports on Feb 14, 2016 04:16 PM

The NU Bulldogs pick up their second straight win at the expense the Adamson Falcons

Paolo Salenga converted late penalty kick, while Nico Macapal scored his third goal of the season just a minute later to give the National University Bulldogs a 2-0 win over the Adamson Falcons in their UAAP Season 78 Men’s Football first round meeting, Sunday afternoon at the McKinley Hill Stadium.

With around ten minutes left in the match and neither team managing to alter the scoreboards, it seemed as though the game was headed to a scoreless draw, and both squads began to fire off any and every open opportunity that they had with hopes of finding the back of the net.

Then in the 86th mark of the match, things turned to National U’s favor, as star striker Salenga was fouled on his way to the goal, earning a penalty kick that he converted easily.

Just a minute later, breakout star Macapal took advantage of the momentum swing and converted a goal of his own to push the lead to 2-0 with around three minutes left in the match.

Adamson tried to pull one back to prevent the shutout, but couldn’t produce and NU held on to take the win and move to 2-0-0 in the Men’s Division.

Credit goes to Adamson keeper Carl Viray, who had saved and deflected all of NU’s attempts at a goal and had them frustrated prior to Salenga’s penalty conversion.

The NU Bulldogs regain the top spot of the standings and are deadlocked with De La Salle, both with two wins and six points in two matches played, although NU holds a slight advantage over DLSU due to goal difference. The Bulldogs remain perfect in the goalkeeping end, as they have yet to be scored on this season.

Macapal, who has emerged as NU’s leading goal-scorer early this season, also commented on his performance, saying that he wants to be able to leave his mark on the scoreboards in every game, but it isn’t a goal for himself, but for the whole team.